Tackle (gridiron football position)

Tackle is a playing position in American and Canadian football. Historically, in the one-platoon system prevalent in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, a tackle played on both offense and defense; in the modern system of specialized units, offensive tackle and defensive tackle are separate positions, and the stand-alone term "tackle" refers to the offensive tackle position only. The offensive tackle (OT, T) is a position on the offensive line, left and right. Like other offensive linemen, their job is to block: to physically keep defenders away from the offensive player who has the football and enable him to advance the football and eventually score a touchdown, the term "tackle" is a vestige of an earlier era of football in which the same players played both offense and defense.

A tackle is the strong position on the offensive line, they power their blocks with quick steps and maneuverability. The tackles are mostly in charge of the outside protection. If the tight end goes out for a pass, the tackle must cover everyone that his guard does not, plus whoever the tight end is not covering. Usually they defend against defensive ends; in the NFL, offensive tackles often measure over 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) and 300 lb (140 kg).

According to Sports Illustrated football journalist Paul "Dr. Z" Zimmerman, offensive tackles consistently achieve the highest scores, relative to the other positional groups, on the Wonderlic Test, with an average of 26. The Wonderlic is taken before the draft to assess each player's aptitude for learning and problem solving; a score of 26 is estimated to correspond with an IQ of 112.[citation needed]

The right tackle (RT) is usually the team's best run blocker.[citation needed] Most running plays are towards the strong side (the side with the tight end) of the offensive line. Consequently, the right tackle will face the defending team's best run stoppers, he must be able to gain traction in his blocks so that the running back can find a hole to run through.

The left tackle (LT) is usually the team's best pass blocker.[citation needed] Of the two tackles, the left tackles will often have better footwork and agility than the right tackle in order to counteract the pass rush of defensive ends. When a quarterback throws a forward pass, the quarterback's shoulders are aligned roughly perpendicular to the line of scrimmage, with the non-dominant shoulder closer to downfield. Right-handed quarterbacks, the majority of players in the position, thus turn their backs to defenders coming from the left side, creating a vulnerable "blind side" that the left tackle must protect. (Conversely, teams with left-handed quarterbacks tend to have their better pass blockers at right tackle for the same reason.)

A 2006 book by Michael Lewis, The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game, made into a 2009 motion picture, sheds much light on the workings of the left tackle position. The book and the film's introduction discuss how the annual salary of left tackles in the NFL skyrocketed in the mid-1990s. Premier left tackles are now highly sought after, and are often the second highest paid players on a roster after the quarterback; in the 2013 NFL Draft three of the first four picks were left tackles, and usually at least one left tackle is picked in the first five positions.[1] Recent examples include Eric Fisher (2013, 1st overall pick), Luke Joeckel (2013, 2nd overall pick), Lane Johnson (2013, 4th overall pick), Matt Kalil (2012, 4th overall pick), Trent Williams (2010, 4th overall pick), Jake Long (2008, 1st overall pick), and Joe Thomas (2007, 3rd overall pick).

1.
Tackle (football move)
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Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary and important purposes of tackling are to dispossess an opponent of the ball, the word is used in some contact variations of football to describe the act of physically holding or wrestling a player to the ground. In others, it simply one or more methods of contesting for possession of the ball. It can therefore be used as both a defensive or attacking move, in Middle Dutch, the verb tacken meant to grab or to handle. By the 18th century, a use was applied to harnesses or equipment used with horses. Modern use in football comes from the sport of rugby. In any such case, the ball becomes dead, the down is over, a tackle is known as a quarterback sack when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage while attempting to throw a pass. A tackle for loss indicates a tackle that causes a loss of yardage for the running back or wide receiver. When a player who does not have the ball is taken down it is referred to as a block. Tackles can also be made by grabbing the ball carriers jersey, as mentioned above, the referee can declare that a play is dead if the ball carriers forward progress has been stopped, even if he has not actually been taken to the ground. To protect players from potentially catastrophic injury, there are restrictions on tackles. At no time may a defensive player tackle a player by grabbing the facemask of their helmet, doing so incurs a 15-yard penalty. A similar penalty is assessed to any player attempting to contact with his helmet against another opponents helmet. Grabbing a ball carrier by the pads behind his neck and pulling him down is known as a horse collar, a method which has been made illegal at all levels of American football. However, in the NFL a player can continue forward for one step, place kickers and punters are afforded an even greater protection from being tackled. Once the play is ruled complete, no contact is permitted, a player who makes contact with an opponent after the play is charged with unnecessary roughness and his team is assessed a 15-yard penalty. However, a player who plays on the line can block below the knees as long the block is five yards of the line. In the National Football League, tackles are tracked as a statistic by a scorekeeper hired by the home team

2.
Defensive tackle
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A defensive tackle is typically the largest and strongest of the defensive players in American football. The defensive tackle lines up opposite one of the offensive guards. Depending on a teams defensive scheme, a defensive tackle may be called upon to fill several different roles. These roles may include holding the point of attack by refusing to be moved or penetrating a certain gap between offensive linemen to break up a play in the opponents backfield. If a defensive tackle reads a play, his primary responsibility is to pursue the quarterback. Other responsibilities of the tackle may be to pursue the screen pass or drop into coverage in a zone blitz scheme. In a traditional 4–3 defensive set, there is no nose tackle, instead there is a left and right defensive tackle. Some teams especially in the NFL do have a nose tackle in this scheme, nose tackle is a defensive alignment position for a defensive lineman. In the 3–4 defensive scheme the sole defensive tackle is referred to as the nose tackle, the nose tackle aligns across the line of scrimmage from the offenses center before the play begins in the 0-technique position. In this position, frequently taking on the center and at least one if not both of the guards, the tackle is considered to be the most physically demanding position in football. In five-linemen situations, such as a formation, the nose guard is the innermost lineman. Typical 3–4 nose tackles are big wide bodies who can hold the point of attack and force double teams by the guard and they are usually the heaviest players on the roster, with weights ranging from 325 to 375 pounds. Also, height is critical, as they are supposed to get under the offensive line, recent examples of such nose tackles include Ron Simmons, Casey Hampton, Jamal Williams, Gilbert Brown, Dontari Poe, and Vince Wilfork. Rather uncommon are taller nose tackles, such as Ted Washington and Maake Kemoeatu, in some 4–3 defensive set, the nose tackle is one of two defensive tackles. Some teams especially in the NFL do have a nose tackle in the 4–3 defensive set, in a 4–3 defensive set, nose tackles are rather quick and supposed to shoot the A gap and beat the center and very likely the weak-side or pulling guard into the backfield. Height is not as important, and their weight is closer to 300 pounds, the terms nose guard or middle guard were more commonly used with the five-man defensive line of the older 5-2 defense. Effective against most plays of the day, but with a weakness to the short pass. In the 4-3 defense, the middle linebacker replaced the middle guard

3.
American football
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The offense must advance at least ten yards in four downs, or plays, or else they turn over the football to the opposing team, if they succeed, they are given a new set of four downs. Points are primarily scored by advancing the ball into the teams end zone for a touchdown or kicking the ball through the opponents goalposts for a field goal. The team with the most points at the end of a game wins, American football evolved in the United States, originating from the sports of association football and rugby football. The first game of American football was played on November 6,1869, during the latter half of the 1870s, colleges playing association football switched to the Rugby Union code, which allowed carrying the ball. American football as a whole is the most popular sport in the United States, Professional football and college football are the most popular forms of the game, with the other major levels being high school and youth football. As of 2012, nearly 1.1 million high school athletes and 70,000 college athletes play the sport in the United States annually, almost all of them men, in the United States, American football is referred to as football. The term football was established in the rulebook for the 1876 college football season. The terms gridiron or American football are favored in English-speaking countries where other codes of football are popular, such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, American football evolved from the sports of association football and rugby football. What is considered to be the first American football game was played on November 6,1869 between Rutgers and Princeton, two college teams, the game was played between two teams of 25 players each and used a round ball that could not be picked up or carried. It could, however, be kicked or batted with the feet, hands, head or sides, Rutgers won the game 6 goals to 4. Collegiate play continued for years in which matches were played using the rules of the host school. Representatives of Yale, Columbia, Princeton and Rutgers met on October 19,1873 to create a set of rules for all schools to adhere to. Teams were set at 20 players each, and fields of 400 by 250 feet were specified, Harvard abstained from the conference, as they favored a rugby-style game that allowed running with the ball. An 1875 Harvard-Yale game played under rugby-style rules was observed by two impressed Princeton athletes and these players introduced the sport to Princeton, a feat the Professional Football Researchers Association compared to selling refrigerators to Eskimos. Princeton, Harvard, Yale and Columbia then agreed to play using a form of rugby union rules with a modified scoring system. These schools formed the Intercollegiate Football Association, although Yale did not join until 1879, the introduction of the snap resulted in unexpected consequences. Prior to the snap, the strategy had been to punt if a scrum resulted in bad field position, however, a group of Princeton players realized that, as the snap was uncontested, they now could hold the ball indefinitely to prevent their opponent from scoring. In 1881, both teams in a game between Yale-Princeton used this strategy to maintain their undefeated records, each team held the ball, gaining no ground, for an entire half, resulting in a 0-0 tie

4.
Canadian football
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In Canada, the term football may refer to Canadian football and American football collectively, or to either sport specifically, depending on context. The two sports have shared origins and are related but have significant differences. Rugby football in Canada originated in the early 1860s, and over time, active teams such as the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats have similar longevity. The CFL is the most popular and only major professional Canadian football league and its championship game, the Grey Cup, is one of Canadas largest sporting events, attracting a broad television audience, though it has been shrinking in recent years. In 2009, about 40% of Canadas population watched part of the game, in 2014, it was closer to 33%, great achievements in Canadian football are enshrined in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame located in Hamilton, Ontario. Other organizations across Canada perform senior league Canadian football during the summer, the first documented football match was a practice game played on November 9,1861, at University College, University of Toronto. One of the participants in the game involving University of Toronto students was Sir William Mulock, a football club was formed at the university soon afterward, although its rules of play at this stage are unclear. The first written account of a game played was on October 15,1862 and it was between the First Battalion Grenadier Guards and the Second Battalion Scots Fusilier Guards resulting in a win by the Grenadier Guards 3 goals,2 rouges to nothing. In 1864, at Trinity College, Toronto, F. Barlow Cumberland, Frederick A. Bethune, the game gradually gained a following, with the Hamilton Football Club formed on November 3,1869. Montreal formed a team April 8,1872, Toronto was formed on October 4,1873, and this rugby-football soon became popular at Montreals McGill University. McGill challenged Harvard University to a game, in 1874 using a game of English rugby devised by the University of McGill. Later both the Ontario and Quebec Rugby Football Union were formed, and then the Interprovincial and Western Interprovincial Football Union, the CRFU reorganized into an umbrella organization forming the Canadian Rugby Union in 1891. The original forerunners to the current Canadian Football League, was established in 1956 when the IRFU and WIFU formed an umbrella organization, and then in 1958 the CFC left The CRFU to become the CFL. The Burnside rules closely resembling American football that were incorporated in 1903 by The ORFU, was an effort to distinguish it from a more rugby-oriented game, the rules were an attempt to standardize the rules throughout the country. The CIRFU, QRFU and CRU refused to adopt the new rules at first, the primary differences between the Canadian and American games stem from rule changes that the American side of the border adopted but the Canadian side did not. The Canadian field width was one rule that was not based on American rules, as the Canadian game was played in wider fields, initially an amateur competition, it eventually became dominated by professional teams in the 1940s and early 1950s. The Ontario Rugby Football Union, the last amateur organization to compete for the trophy, the move ushered in the modern era of Canadian professional football. Canadian football has mostly been confined to Canada, with the United States being the other country to have hosted high-level Canadian football games

5.
Lineman (gridiron football)
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In gridiron football, a lineman is a player who specializes in play at the line of scrimmage. The linemen of the currently in possession of the ball are the offensive line. A number of NFL rules specifically address restrictions and requirements for the offensive line, linemen are usually the largest players on the field in both height and weight, since their positions usually require less running and more strength than skill positions. An offensive linemans motion during a play is limited to just a few quick steps to establish position. Offensive linemen thus tend to be the largest players on the field, with excellent agility and balance, most pro and college football offensive lineman tend to weigh over 300 pounds. On passing plays, the line is responsible for stopping defensive players from tackling the quarterback before he has thrown the ball. The interior offensive line consists of the center, who is responsible for snapping the ball into play, in addition to the interior line, a full offensive line may also include a Tight End outside one or both of the tackles. However, ends are eligible to catch passes, when an offensive lineman knocks a player down on a block, leaving the defensive player lying flat on his back, it is colloquially known as a pancake block. When an offensive line has an number of men on either side of the center. The defensive line consists of one or two defensive tackles and two ends who play outside the defensive tackles. The defensive line works with the linebackers to try to control the line of scrimmage, the 4-3 defensive formation, most commonly used in the NFL, employs two defensive tackles, while the 3-4 formation uses just a single defensive tackle, called the nose tackle. However, defensive ends in a typical 3-4 have responsibilities more similar to a 4-3 defensive tackle than 4-3 defensive ends, on running plays, the goal is to tackle the ball carrier. The defensive tackles are usually the most skilled run defenders on the team, on passing plays, the defensive line tries to reach the quarterback. Defensive ends are usually the most skilled pass rushers on the team, in order to increase the pressure on the quarterback, teams will often have players other than the defensive line attempt to tackle the quarterback, this is called a blitz. Defensive linemen—particularly defensive ends—are called upon to do more running than offensive linemen, thus they usually tend to be somewhat lighter and faster

6.
Blocking (American football)
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In American football, blocking or interference involves legal movements in which one player obstructs another players path with their body. The purpose of blocking is to prevent defensive players from tackling the ball carrier, Blocking is also not permitted beyond five yards from the line of scrimmage until the quarterback has handed off the ball to a runner or a receiver has touched the ball after it has been passed. Outside sports, running interference is a metaphor that refers to a persons helping someone in the performance of a task without directly assisting in the task, often this is done by attracting attention to oneself or throwing oneself into harms way. Zone blocking is a technique that is a simple and effective scheme for creating lanes for running plays, in a zone blocking scheme, fleet-footedness and athletic ability trump size as desirable qualities in offensive linemen. Coordination and technique more than muscle in implementing a successful scheme because defensive linemen are often double-teamed at the point of attack. In this blocking scheme, which takes much from the Veer blocking system, one of the simplest reasons many teams have incorporated zone blocking in their offenses is that zone blocking rules do not change based on the defensive front. In a man block system, blockers are paired with according to certain rules to create a running lane. If the defensive front changes, or if the stunts or blitzes. This requires learning multiple rules for the same play, Zone blocking uses very consistent rules that do not change according to the defensive front. Some teams base their entire offense on it, including the NFLs Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers. The University of Iowa under head coach Kirk Ferentz, a former NFL offensive line coach, utilizes zone blocking, the University of Michigan also started using zone blocking under head coach Lloyd Carr in the 2006 season, and continued to do so under his successor, Rodriguez. The Carolina Panthers made the switch to zone blocking under offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson for the 2007 season, the power running game became stagnant, and especially ineffective in goal-line/short yardage situations, thus resulting in Hennings firing and the switch to zone blocking. That season also saw the emergence of rookie Steve Slaton with the Houston Texans under their new Alex Gibbs-designed zone blocking scheme, using a running back out of the backfield, zone plays are usually categorized into three types, Inside Zone, Outside Zone and Stretch. These types describe the initial landmark of the ball carrier, a common approach is, Inside the tackles for IZ, just outside the tackle for OZ and just inside the last offensive player for the stretch. For each type of zone there are many different blocking schemes available, if uncovered, he is asked to help play-side on a double team by using wide lateral steps or even bucket steps. The resulting double team then reacts to the movement of the linemen as well as the movement of the linebacker, the initial movement of the double teams helps to equalize defensive talent and creates cutback lanes. Another scheme asks the offensive linemen to imagine a railroad track parallel to the running backs path and this could be a linebacker, but also a slanting defensive linemen from somewhere else. Starting from either inside or outside, some offensive lines always pair two on one and use a fullback to block the remaining defender outside and this makes it necessary for the offensive linemen to use a variety of line-splits and steps

7.
Touchdown
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A touchdown is a means of scoring in both American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, to score a touchdown, one team must take the football into the opposite end zone. The touchdown is scored the instant the ball crosses the plane of the line while in possession of a player whose team is trying to score in that end zone. The play is dead and the scores the moment the ball crosses the goal line in possession of a player. The slightest part of the ball being over the line is sufficient for a touchdown to score. However, only the ball counts, not a players helmet, foot, touching one of the pylons at either end of the goal line with the ball constitutes breaking the plane as well. Touchdowns are usually scored by the offense by running or passing the ball, however, the defense can also score a touchdown if they have recovered a fumble or made an interception and return it to the opposing end zone. Special teams can score a touchdown on a kickoff or punt return, in short, any play in which a player legally carries the ball across the goal line scores a touchdown, and the manner in which he gained possession is inconsequential. A touchdown is worth six points, the scoring team is also awarded the opportunity for an extra point or a two-point conversion. Afterwards, the team scored the touchdown kicks off to the opposing team. This rule was changed to the iteration in 1889. If the teammate could fair catch the ball, he could follow with a try for goal from the spot of the catch, the governing rule at the time read, A match shall be decided by a majority of touchdowns. A goal shall be equal to four touchdowns, but in the case of a tie, in 1881, the rules were modified so that a goal kicked from a touchdown took precedence over a goal kicked from the field in breaking ties. In 1882, four touchdowns were determined to take precedence over a goal kicked from the field, two safeties were equivalent to a touchdown. In 1883, points were introduced to football, and a touchdown counted as four points, a goal after a touchdown also counted as four points. In 1889, the provision requiring the ball to actually be touched to the ground was removed, a touchdown was now scored by possessing the ball beyond the goal line. In 1897, the touchdown scored five points, and the goal after touchdown added another point, in 1900, the definition of touchdown was changed to include situations where the ball becomes dead on or above the goal line. In 1912, the value of a touchdown was increased to six points, the end zone was also added

8.
Forward pass
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In several forms of football a forward pass is a throwing of the ball in the direction that the offensive team is trying to move, towards the defensive teams goal line. In some football codes, such as football, the kicked forward pass is used so ubiquitously that it is not thought of as a distinct kind of play at all. In these sports, the concept of offside is used to regulate who can be in front of the play or be nearest to the goal, however, this has not always been the case. Some earlier incarnations of football allowed unlimited forward passing, while others had strict offside rules similar to rugby, the development of the forward pass in American football shows how the game has evolved from its rugby roots into the distinctive game it is today. Illegal and experimental forward passes had been attempted as early as 1876, another change in rules occurred on January 18,1951, which established that no center, tackle, or guard could receive a forward pass. Today, the only linemen who can receive a forward pass are the ends, current rules regulate who may throw and who may receive a forward pass, and under what circumstances, as well as how the defensive team may try to prevent a pass from being completed. In American and Canadian football, a pass, usually referred to simply as a pass. This is permitted only once during a scrimmage down by the team before team possession has changed, provided the pass is thrown from in or behind the neutral zone. An illegal forward pass can incur a penalty and the loss of a down, although it may be legally intercepted by the opponents. If an eligible receiver on the passing team legally catches the ball, the pass is completed, if an opposing player legally catches the ball it is an interception. That players team immediately gains possession of the ball and he may attempt to advance the ball toward his opponents goal, if no player is able to legally catch the ball it is an incomplete pass and the ball becomes dead the moment it touches the ground. It will then be returned to the line of scrimmage for the next down. If any player interferes with an eligible receivers ability to catch the ball it is pass interference which draws a penalty of varying degree. The person passing the ball must be a member of the team. The moment that a forward pass begins is important to the game, the pass begins the moment the passers arm begins to move forward. If the passer drops the ball before this moment it is a fumble, in this case anybody can gain possession of the ball before or after it touches the ground. If the passer drops the ball while his arm is moving forward it is a pass, regardless of where the ball lands or is first touched. The quarterback generally either starts a few paces behind the line of scrimmage or drops back a few paces after the ball is snapped

9.
Guard (American and Canadian football)
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In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player who lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team on the line of scrimmage used primarily for blocking. Right guards is the term for the guards on the right of the offensive line, Guards are to the right or left of the center. The guards job is to protect the quarterback from the incoming linemen during pass plays, Guards are automatically considered ineligible receivers, so they cannot intentionally touch a forward pass, unless it is to recover a fumble or is first touched by a defender or eligible receiver. This technique is used in most playbooks for outside runs and on counter plays, vanderbilts Dan McGugin is credited with first pulling guards. Since the Guard is free of responsibility for play-side outside runs and far-side counter plays, pulling is generally a unique responsibility for Guards

10.
Tight end
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The tight end is a position in American football, Arena football, and formerly Canadian football, on the offense. The tight end is seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics. Like offensive linemen, they are lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be effective blockers. On the other hand, they are eligible receivers adept enough to warrant a defenses attention when running pass patterns, because of the hybrid nature of the position, the tight ends role in any given offense depends on the tactical preferences and philosophy of the head coach. In some systems, the end will merely act as a sixth offensive lineman rarely going out for passes. Other systems use the tight end primarily as a receiver, frequently taking advantage of the tight ends size to create mismatches in the defensive secondary. Many coaches will often have one tight end who specializes in blocking in running situations while using a pass catching tight end in obvious passing situations. Offensive formations may have as few as zero or as many as three tight ends at one time. If a wide receiver is present in a formation, but outside the tight end, also the offensive coordinator could use the tight end for a fullback. The advent of the end position is closely tied to the decline of the one-platoon system during the 1940s and 50s. Originally, a derived from the games evolution from other forms of football limited substitutions. Consequently, players had to be adept at playing on both sides of the ball, with most offensive linemen doubling as defensive linemen or linebackers, and receivers as defensive backs. As the transition from starters going both ways to dedicated offensive and defensive squads took place, players who did not fit the mold of the traditional positions began to fill niches. Those who were both good pass catchers and blockers but mediocre on defense were no longer liabilities, instead, many were too big to be receivers yet too small for offensive linemen. Greater use of the end as a receiver started in the 60s with the emergence of stars Mike Ditka. Until then most teams relied on the tight ends blocking as almost a sixth offensive lineman, in addition to superb blocking, Ditka offered great hands receiving and rugged running after a completion. Over a 12-year career, he caught 427 passes for over 5,800 yards and 43 touchdowns, Mackey brought speed, with six of his nine touchdown catches in one season being breakaways over 50 yards. Starting in 1980 the Coryell offense debuted tight end Kellen Winslow running wide receiver-type routes, tight ends prior to Winslow were primarily blockers lined up next to an offensive lineman and given short to medium drag routes

11.
Defensive end
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Defensive end is a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football. This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, early formations, with six- and seven-man lines, used the end as a containment player, whose job was first to prevent an end run around his position, then secondarily to force plays inside. Some teams would use both styles of end play, depending on game situations, some defensive ends play the position due to their size, they close down their gap so the running back has no hole to run through. Other ends play the position due to their speed and agility and these ends can time the snap of the ball in order to get a jump on the rush, and stop the play. Most of the time it is the job of the end to keep outside or contain. The defensive ends are fast for players of their size, often the fastest and smallest players on the defensive line and they must be able to shed blockers to get to the ball. Defensive ends are often used to cover the outside area of the line of scrimmage, to tackle ball carriers running to the far right or left side. Since the creation of zone blitz defenses in the late 1990s, defensive ends have sometimes used in pass coverages. In the 3–4 defense, defensive ends are used primarily as run stoppers and are much larger, often, the position is played by a more agile or slightly undersized defensive tackle. Because of the popularity of the 3–4 defense, the value of a defensive tackle prospect that can possibly be used in this manner has increased. They are used to distract the offensive lineman on pass rushing plays to let the outside linebackers get a sack and they block screen passes and are put outside of the offensive tackles to get a sack. Some say you might as well convert a nose tackle into a 3–4 end

12.
National Football League
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The National Football League is a professional American football league consisting of 32 teams, divided equally between the National Football Conference and the American Football Conference. The NFL is one of the four professional sports leagues in North America. The NFLs 17-week regular season runs from the week after Labor Day to the week after Christmas, with each team playing 16 games, the NFL was formed in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association before renaming itself the National Football League for the 1922 season. The NFL agreed to merge with the American Football League in 1966, and the first Super Bowl was held at the end of that season, the merger was completed in 1970. Today, the NFL has the highest average attendance of any sports league in the world and is the most popular sports league in the United States. S. The NFLs executive officer is the commissioner, who has authority in governing the league. The team with the most NFL championships is the Green Bay Packers with thirteen, the current NFL champions are the New England Patriots, who defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34–28 in Super Bowl LI. Another meeting held on September 17,1920 resulted in the renaming of the league to the American Professional Football Association, the league hired Jim Thorpe as its first president, and consisted of 14 teams. Only two of these teams, the Decatur Staleys and the Chicago Cardinals, remain, the first event occurred on September 26,1920 when the Rock Island Independents defeated the non-league St. Paul Ideals 48–0 at Douglas Park. On October 3,1920, the first full week of league play occurred, the following season resulted in the Chicago Staleys controversially winning the title over the Buffalo All-Americans. In 1922, the APFA changed its name to the National Football League, in 1932, the season ended with the Chicago Bears and the Portsmouth Spartans tied for first in the league standings. This method had used since the leagues creation in 1920. The league quickly determined that a game between Chicago and Portsmouth was needed to decide the leagues champion. Playing with altered rules to accommodate the playing field, the Bears won the game 9–0. Fan interest in the de facto championship game led the NFL, beginning in 1933, the 1934 season also marked the first of 12 seasons in which African Americans were absent from the league. The de facto ban was rescinded in 1946, following public pressure, the NFL was always the foremost professional football league in the United States, it nevertheless faced a large number of rival professional leagues through the 1930s and 1940s. Rival leagues included at least three separate American Football Leagues and the All-America Football Conference, on top of regional leagues of varying caliber. Three NFL teams trace their histories to these leagues, including the Los Angeles Rams

13.
Sports Illustrated
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Sports Illustrated is an American sports media franchise owned by Time Inc. Its self-titled magazine has over 3 million subscribers and is read by 23 million people each week and it was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the National Magazine Award for General Excellence twice. Its swimsuit issue, which has published since 1964, is now an annual publishing event that generates its own television shows, videos. There were two magazines named Sports Illustrated before the current magazine began on August 16,1954, in 1936, Stuart Scheftel created Sports Illustrated with a target market for the sportsman. He published the magazine from 1936 to 1938 on a monthly basis, the magazine was a life magazine size and focused on golf, tennis, and skiing with articles on the major sports. He then sold the name to Dell Publications, which released Sports Illustrated in 1949, dells version focused on major sports and competed on magazine racks against Sport and other monthly sports magazines. During the 1940s these magazines were monthly and they did not cover the current events because of the production schedules, there was no large-base, general, weekly sports magazine with a national following on actual active events. It was then that Time patriarch Henry Luce began considering whether his company should attempt to fill that gap, at the time, many believed sports was beneath the attention of serious journalism and did not think sports news could fill a weekly magazine, especially during the winter. A number of advisers to Luce, including Life magazines Ernest Havemann, tried to kill the idea, but Luce, the goal of the new magazine was to be basically a magazine, but with sports. Launched on August 16,1954, it was not profitable and not particularly well run at first, but Luces timing was good. The popularity of sports in the United States was about to explode. The early issues of the magazine seemed caught between two opposing views of its audience, after more than a decade of steady losses, the magazines fortunes finally turned around in the 1960s when Andre Laguerre became its managing editor. A European correspondent for Time, Inc, in May 1956, Luce brought Laguerre to New York to become assistant managing editor of the magazine. He was also one of the first to sense the rise of national interest in professional football, Laguerre also instituted the innovative concept of one long story at the end of every issue, which he called the bonus piece. His genius as an editor was that he made you want to please him, Laguerre is also credited with the conception and creation of the annual Swimsuit Issue, which quickly became, and remains, the most popular issue each year. Regular illustration features by artists like Robert Riger, high school football Player of the Month awards. In 2015 Sports Illustrated purchased a group of companies and combined them to create Sports Illustrated Play. The magazines photographers also made their mark with innovations like putting cameras in the goal at a hockey game, by 1967, the magazine was printing 200 pages of fast color a year, in 1983, SI became the first American full-color newsweekly

14.
IQ
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An intelligence quotient is a total score derived from several standardized tests designed to assess human intelligence. The resulting fraction is multiplied by 100 to obtain the IQ score, by this definition, approximately two-thirds of the population scores between IQ85 and IQ115. About 5 percent of the population scores above 125, and 5 percent below 75, IQ scores have been shown to be associated with such factors as morbidity and mortality, parental social status, and, to a substantial degree, biological parental IQ. While the heritability of IQ has been investigated for nearly a century, there is debate about the significance of heritability estimates. IQ scores are used for placement, assessment of intellectual disability. Even when students improve their scores on standardized tests, they do not always improve their abilities, such as memory, attention. In research contexts they have studied as predictors of job performance. They are also used to study distributions of psychometric intelligence in populations, raw scores on IQ tests for many populations have been rising at an average rate that scales to three IQ points per decade since the early 20th century, a phenomenon called the Flynn effect. Investigation of different patterns of increases in subtest scores can also inform current research on human intelligence, historically, even before IQ tests were invented, there were attempts to classify people into intelligence categories by observing their behavior in daily life. Those other forms of observation are still important for validating classifications based primarily on IQ test scores. The English statistician Francis Galton made the first attempt at creating a standardized test for rating a persons intelligence and he hypothesized that there should exist a correlation between intelligence and other observable traits such as reflexes, muscle grip, and head size. He set up the first mental testing centre in the world in 1882 and he published Inquiries into Human Faculty and Its Development in 1883, after gathering data on a variety of physical variables, he was unable to show any such correlation, and he eventually abandoned this research. French psychologist Alfred Binet, together with Victor Henri and Théodore Simon had more success in 1905, when published the Binet-Simon test. The score on the Binet-Simon scale would reveal the childs mental age, for example, a six-year-old child who passed all the tasks usually passed by six-year-olds—but nothing beyond—would have a mental age that matched his chronological age,6.0. Binet thought that intelligence was multifaceted, but came under the control of practical judgment, American psychologist Henry H. Goddard published a translation of it in 1910. American psychologist Lewis Terman at Stanford University revised the Binet-Simon scale and it became the most popular test in the United States for decades. The many different kinds of IQ tests include a variety of item content. Some test items are visual, while many are verbal, test items vary from being based on abstract-reasoning problems to concentrating on arithmetic, vocabulary, or general knowledge

15.
Minnesota Vikings
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The Minnesota Vikings are an American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as a team in 1960. The team competes in the National Football Conference North division, before that, the Vikings were in the NFC Central, the team has played in four Super Bowl games, but lost each one. The team plays its games at U. S. Bank Stadium in the Downtown East section of Minneapolis, professional football in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area began with the Minneapolis Marines/Red Jackets, an NFL team that played intermittently in the 1920s and 1930s. However, a new team in the area did not surface again until August 1959. Skoglund, and Max Winter were awarded a franchise in the new American Football League. Ole Haugsrud was added to the NFL team ownership because, in the 1920s, when he sold his Duluth Eskimos team back to the league, the agreement allowed him 10 percent of any future Minnesota team. Coincidentally or not, the teams from Ole Haugsruds high school, Central High School in Superior, Wisconsin, were called the Vikings. From the teams first season in 1961 to 1981, the team called Metropolitan Stadium in suburban Bloomington home, the Vikings conducted summer training camp at Bemidji State University from 1961 to 1965. In 1966, the moved to their current training camp at Minnesota State University in Mankato. The Vikings played their games at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis from 1982 to 2013. The Vikings played their last game at the Metrodome on December 29,2013, since the teams first season in 1961, the Vikings have had one of the highest winning percentages in the NFL. As of 2014, they have won at least three games in every season except in 1962, and are one of only six NFL teams to win at least 15 games in a regular season. The Vikings have won one NFL Championship, in 1969, before the merger with the American Football League. Since the league merger in 1970, they have qualified for the playoffs 26 times, the team has played in Super Bowls IV, VIII, IX, and XI, though failing to win any of them. In addition, they have lost in their last five NFC Championship Game appearances since 1978, the team currently has 13 members in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The team was named the Minnesota Vikings on September 27,1960

16.
Bryant McKinnie
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Bryant Douglas McKinnie is a former American football offensive tackle. He played college football for the University of Miami, where he was recognized as an All-American. The Minnesota Vikings drafted him with the seventh pick in the 2002 NFL Draft. McKinnie was born in Woodbury, New Jersey and he attended Woodbury High School in Woodbury, New Jersey, and played high school football for the Woodbury Thundering Herd. McKinnie played college football for two years at Lackawanna College in Scranton, Pennsylvania, there, he gained 70 pounds and switched from his high school position as defensive lineman to offensive tackle. After junior college, he received a scholarship to transfer to the University of Miami, after redshirting in 1999, McKinnie started his junior and senior years at left tackle for the Hurricanes. During his college career he was an extraordinary blocking tackle, not allowing a sack on a quarterback against opposition such as future NFL star Dwight Freeney from Syracuse, McKinnie was, however, penalized for holding Freeney on one play, a rare blemish on his memorable season. McKinnie received first-team All-American honors in 2000, and was recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American in 2001, at Miami, he was roommates with future NFL tight end Jeremy Shockey. In the article, McKinnie said, If you put together a team made up of playing in the NFL who come from the University of Miami. Bryant was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2012, McKinnie was selected seventh overall by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2002 NFL Draft. McKinnie started every game for Minnesota from 2003 to 2007, and had a streak of 80 consecutive games started. After a 2009 loss against the Arizona Cardinals, it was reported by Tony Boselli on the Dan Patrick show that McKinnie accidentally tipped off the Vikings offensive game plan to the Cardinals and he said that the Cardinals knew when the Vikings were going to pass because of his leg. He would have one of his legs back a bit further when getting in stance before the play. In 2010, McKinnie allowed a sack that injured Brett Favre and stopped his consecutive regular season start streak at 297 games. McKinnie was selected to his first NFL Pro Bowl following the 2009 season, because he was not quickly up-front with the league about these issues, the NFL front office forced him to forfeit his $22,500 check and re-pay $4,285 for other expenses. In the summer of 2011, McKinnie was placed on the Vikings non-football injury list for reportedly showing up to camp out of shape, according to The Star Tribune. He had finished the season at 360 pounds and claimed he was going to hire a trainer in the offseason to help him lose some weight. He had also been taking lessons from Venus Williams during that time and claimed that the lessons were long

17.
Line of scrimmage
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In American and Canadian football, a line of scrimmage is an imaginary transverse line beyond which a team cannot cross until the next play has begun. Its location is based on the spot where the ball is placed after the end of the most recent play, a line of scrimmage is parallel to the goal lines and touches one edge of the ball where it sits on the ground prior to the snap. Under NFL, NCAA, and NFHS rules, there are two lines of scrimmage at the outset of each play, one restricts the offense. The area between the two lines is called the neutral zone, only the center, the offensive player who snaps the ball, is allowed to have any part of his body in the neutral zone. In Canadian football, the team on defense must line up no nearer than a yard to the line of scrimmage, in American football, they must only be beyond the line. Many fans and commentators refer colloquially to the neutral zone as the line of scrimmage. Others use the term to refer specifically to the defensive line of scrimmage. Referees, when explaining a penalty, will refer to the spot instead of the line of scrimmage in order to avoid confusion. Modern video techniques enable broadcasts of American football to display a visible line on the screen representing the line of scrimmage, the line is tapered according to camera angle and gets occluded by players and other objects as if the line were painted on the field. The line may represent the line of scrimmage or the distance that the ball must be moved for the offensive team to achieve a first down. Scrummage Glossary of American football Walter Camp, formal creator of the line of scrimmage in 1880 Comparison of Canadian and American football

18.
Michael Lewis
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Michael Monroe Lewis is an American non-fiction author and financial journalist. He has also been an editor to Vanity Fair since 2009. His most recent book is called The Undoing Project, Lewis was born in New Orleans to corporate lawyer J. Thomas Lewis and community activist Diana Monroe Lewis. He attended Isidore Newman School in New Orleans and he then attended Princeton University where he received a cum laude AB in art history in 1982 and was a member of the Ivy Club. He went on to work with New York art dealer Daniel Wildenstein and he enrolled at the London School of Economics and received an MA in economics in 1985. Lewis was hired by Salomon Brothers and moved to New York for their training program and he worked at its London office as a bond salesman. He resigned to write Liars Poker and became a financial journalist, Lewis described his experiences at Salomon and the evolution of the mortgage-backed bond in Liars Poker. In The New New Thing, he investigated the then-booming Silicon Valley, four years later, Lewis wrote Moneyball, in which he investigated the success of Billy Beane and the Oakland As. In August 2007, he wrote an article about catastrophe bonds entitled In Natures Casino that appeared in The New York Times Magazine and he wrote the Dad Again column for Slate. Lewis worked for Conde Nast Portfolio but in February 2009 left to join Vanity Fair, in 2013, in Vanity Fair, Lewis wrote on the injustice of the prosecution of ex-Goldman Sachs programmer Sergey Aleynikov, who is given an entire chapter in Flash Boys. Flash Boys, which looked at high-frequency trading of Wall Street, a best-selling author, Lewis has drawn both supporters and vocal detractors. Lewis has been criticized for writing a 2007 article in Bloomberg criticizing economists at the World Economic Forum for expressing views on how the world wasnt pricing risk appropriately, critics from outside the financial industry have also criticized Lewis for what they consider to be inaccuracies in his writing. In a 2011 column in The Atlantic, American journalist and sports author Allen Barra takes issue with Lewiss characterization of Major League Baseball in his 2003 book Moneyball, Barra writes, From a historical standpoint, Lewis is, well, way off base. By the end of the 20th century baseball had achieved a level of competitive balance than at any time in the games history. Moneyball doesnt just get the state of present-day baseball wrong, it misrepresents the history of the sport. Lewiss Flash Boys, A Wall Street Revolt ignited a new round of controversy surrounding high-frequency trading, one month later, in June 2014, White announced that the SEC would undergo a new round of regulatory review in response to concerns about dark pools and market structure. Lewiss The Undoing Project was widely praised by critics, with Glenn C. Altschuler arguing in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that it may well be his best book, Lewis has been married three times

19.
The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game
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The Blind Side, Evolution of a Game is a book by Michael Lewis released in 2006 by W. W. Norton & Company. The book features two dominant storylines, most quarterbacks are right-handed and in order to throw, they stand with their left shoulders facing down field. Thus, they turn their backs to linebackers and other defenders pass rushing from the left side, taylors speed and power changed the role of outside linebacker to become a more attacking, aggressive position. This in turn caused teams to emphasize larger and more agile left tackles, the second storyline features Michael Oher, the former left tackle for the Ole Miss football team, and later right tackle for the Baltimore Ravens. The film The Blind Side was directed by John Lee Hancock and it stars Quinton Aaron as Oher, along with Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, and Kathy Bates. It also features appearances by several past and present college football coaches playing themselves, author Michael Lewis Tackles Footballs Blind Side. Michael Lewis tells the story of Michael Oher, Michael Lewis on the Hidden Economics of Baseball and Football

20.
The Blind Side (film)
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The Blind Side is a 2009 American biographical sports drama film. It was written and directed by John Lee Hancock, and based on the 2006 book The Blind Side, the storyline features Michael Oher, an offensive lineman who played for the Baltimore Ravens and the Tennessee Titans, and currently is signed with the Carolina Panthers in the NFL. Quinton Aaron stars as Michael Oher, alongside Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy, Tim McGraw as Sean Tuohy, the Blind Side grossed over $300 million. The film also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture, seventeen-year-old Michael Oher talks to an NCAA investigator. Michael has been in care with different families in Memphis, Tennessee. Every time he is placed in a new home, he runs away and his friends father, on whose couch Mike had been sleeping, asks Burt Cotton, the coach of Wingate Christian School, to help enroll his son and Mike. Impressed by Mikes size and athleticism, Cotton gets him admitted despite his academic record. Later, Michael is befriended by a student named Sean Jr. SJs mother, Leigh Anne Tuohy, is a strong-minded interior designer. The school staff tell Michael that his father has passed away, later, Leigh Anne and Sean watch their daughter Collins playing volleyball. After the game, Sean notices Michael picking up leftover food on the bleachers, the next morning, Leigh Anne notices that Michael has left. Seeing him walking away, she asks him to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with her family, slowly, Michael becomes a member of the family. Later, Leigh Anne drives Michael to his mothers house and he sees an eviction notice posted on the door, and his mother is gone. Leigh Annes friends wonder what she is doing, they suggest that Collins might not be safe around Michael and she later asks Collins how she feels about it. Collins replies that they cannot just throw Michael out, when Leigh Anne seeks to become Michaels legal guardian, she learns he was taken from his drug-addict mother when he was seven and that no one knows her whereabouts. She is also told that, although he scored poorly in an aptitude test. When Michael appears to be hesitant to use his strength and size while learning to play football, Leigh Anne tells him, as a offensive lineman, from that moment, Michael improves drastically, well enough to play at the college level. However, to do that, he needs to meet the grade point average to get in so the Tuohys hire a private tutor for him. Leigh Anne has a conversation with Michaels mother about adopting him

21.
2013 NFL Draft
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The 2013 NFL draft was the 78th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft, which is called the NFL Player Selection Meeting, was held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, New York. Eric Fisher was chosen first overall by the Kansas City Chiefs, becoming the offensive lineman ever to be selected with the top pick. Players who attended school in 39 of the 50 states were selected in this draft, Florida. South Carolina contributed the most drafted players on a per capita basis with 13 players, among colleges, Florida State led with 11 players selected. A record 11 players from other than the United States were selected. No running backs were selected in the drafts first round for the first time in draft history, meanwhile, nine offensive linemen were selected in the first round which ties a record previously set in 1968. The draft order is based generally on each teams record from the previous season, in the explanations below, denotes trades that took place during the draft, while indicates trades completed pre-draft. Round one Round two Round three Round four Round five Round six Round seven Two selections in the 2013 draft were forfeited, for each player selected in the supplemental draft, the team forfeits its pick in that round in the draft of the following season. 6 players were eligible, but none were selected, Selection totals by college conference, ^**63 players from one conference is an NFL Draft record. During Super Bowl XLVII, the NFL presented a promotional advertisement for the 2013 Draft featuring retired athlete Deion Sanders attempting a return under the name Leon Sandcastle. The ad followed the exploits of Sandcastle through tryouts until he is drafted first overall by the Kansas City Chiefs. Official site NFL Draft 2013 at ESPN

22.
Eric Fisher (American football)
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Eric William Fisher is an American football offensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chiefs first overall in the 2013 NFL Draft and he played college football at Central Michigan University. A native of Rochester, Michigan, Fisher attended Stoney Creek High School, regarded as a two-star recruit by Rivals. com, he was not ranked among the best offensive tackle prospects in his class. He was undersized for a tackle during high school only weighing 230 pounds according to Fisher. He was also a first-team All-Mid-American Conference selection, Fisher was a part of two bowl wins while at CMU, the 2010 GMAC Bowl and the 2012 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl. Fisher was widely considered one of the top 32 players available in the 2013 NFL Draft and he was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs with the first overall pick, becoming the first MAC player to be drafted No.1 overall. He joins Joe Staley as the only Central Michigan players ever to be selected in the first round of an NFL Draft, on July 26,2013, Fisher signed a guaranteed contract with the Chiefs worth $22.1 million with a $14.5 million signing bonus. Despite playing left tackle during college, Fisher transitioned to right tackle for the 2013 season and he allowed 7 sacks and 35 hurries. According to Pro Football Focus, his run-blocking grade of -6.5 ranked 55th out of 76 NFL tackles who played at least 25 percent of their teams snaps and his overall grade as a tackle ranked 70th. Despite Fishers struggles during his season, Chiefs general manager John Dorsey noted Fishers potential. Fisher played in 14 games during his year of 2013. In March 2014, head coach Andy Reid announced that he was moving Fisher to the tackle position for the upcoming 2014 season. During the 2015 season, Fisher played in 16 games, starting in 14, on May 2,2016, the Chiefs picked up Fishers 5th year option on his contract making him a free agent following the 2017 season. If they did not pick up the option, he would have become a free agent following the 2016 season, on July 30,2016, Fisher signed a 4-year contract extension with the Chiefs worth $48 million, including $40 million guaranteed. In week one, after a performance, Pro Football Focus ranked Fisher as the number one left tackle of the week. In the divisional round of the 2016 playoffs against the Pittsburgh Steelers, following a successful 2-point conversion, Fisher was called on a holding penalty which resulted in a loss of 10 yards. On the 2nd attempt from the Steelers 12-yard line, the Chiefs failed the 2-point conversion, Central Michigan Chippewas bio Kansas City Chiefs profile ESPN Profile Pro Football Reference Profile

23.
Luke Joeckel
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Luke Tobias Joeckel is an American football offensive tackle for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars second overall in the 2013 NFL Draft and he played college football at Texas A&M, starting all 37 games at left tackle from 2010 to 2012. In his final year of 2012, he won the Outland Trophy, awarded to the top college football interior lineman. A native of Arlington, Texas, Joeckel attended Arlington High School and he anchored an offensive line that averaged just under 475 yards per game. His twin brother Matt Joeckel played quarterback for Arlington and his older brother, David, played offensive lineman at DePauw. Joeckels father, David, now a lawyer in Fort Worth, was a four-year letterman and three-year starter as an offensive lineman at Texas Tech, under coaches Rex Dockery and Jerry Moore. His grandfather, Reece Washington, played end for Texas Tech. In track & field, Joeckel competed in the throwing events and he had top-throws of 13.10 meters in the shot put and 34.44 meters in the discus throw. Regarded as a recruit by Rivals. com, Joeckel was listed as the No.5 offensive tackle prospect of the class of 2010, behind only Seantrel Henderson, Rob Crisp, Shon Coleman. Despite growing up as a Red Raiders fan, Joeckel chose Texas A&M over Texas Tech and he also had offers from Alabama, Louisiana State, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, among others. Joeckel attended Texas A&M University, where he played for the Texas A&M Aggies football team from 2010 to 2012 and he enrolled in January 2010, and went through the Aggies spring drills. As a true freshman in 2010, Joeckel started all 13 games at left tackle, the Aggies averaged over 165.8 rushing yards per game and featured a 100-yard rusher in nine games, six of which belong to Cyrus Gray. Joeckel earned Freshman All-American honors by the Football Writers Association of America, as a sophomore in 2011, Joeckel started all 13 games again and was a second team All-Big 12 selection. He was part of an Aggies offensive front that allowed just nine sacks in 13 games, Joeckel himself won the Outland Trophy, awarded to the nations top college football interior lineman, and was named a consensus All-American. NFL scouts praised his performance against Louisiana States talented defensive line, “I think he is better than Joe Thomas and Matt Kalil, ” one NFL GM said according to Pro Football Weekly. Joeckel played alongside Jake Matthews, who played tackle from 2010–2012. When Joeckel left Texas A&M, Matthews switched to left tackle in 2013, in September 2013, after an NFL. com writer asked five NFL executives who was the better player between Matthews and Joeckel, three of the executives said Joeckel. By midseason, Joeckel was projected as a selection in the 2013 NFL Draft by Sports Illustrated

24.
Lane Johnson
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David Lane Johnson is an American football offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Eagles fourth overall in the 2013 NFL Draft and he played college football at Oklahoma. Johnson was born in Groveton, Texas, and attended Groveton High School, in football, he was an honorable mention All-state selection as a quarterback, and was named All-district. In track & field, Johnson competed in the throwing events and he earned a fourth-place finish in the shot put event at the 2008 UIL 1A State Championships, with a top-throw of 15.21 meters. Johnson attended Kilgore College, a college in east Texas. After his freshman year, he transferred to the University of Oklahoma, after redshirting in 2009, he played as a tight end and a defensive end in 2010. In 2011, he switched to offensive tackle and started 12 of 13 games at right tackle, as a senior in 2012, he switched to left tackle and started 11 of 13 games and was named a third team All-American by CBSSports. com. The Philadelphia Eagles selected Johnson in the first round, with the fourth overall pick, on July 20,2013, Johnson signed a four-year contract, worth $19.853 million. It was announced on June 30,2014, that he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, although Johnson missed the first four games of the season, he allowed only 1 sack in the remainder of the year and was graded 2nd among right tackles by Pro Football Focus. Pro Football Focus named Johnson to the 2014 PFF All-Pro Team, in 2015 Johnson played through numerous injuries, but started all 16 games, including 2 games at left tackle. On January 29,2016, Johnson signed a 6-year extension through the 2021 season, on August 9,2016, it was reported that Johnson would face a ten-game suspension due to PED violations. On October 11,2016, his suspension was upheld. He returned to the team for their Week 16 game against the New York Giants on December 22,2016, Johnson has an ongoing lawsuit against the NFL and the NFL Players Association stemming from his the 10-game suspension for his second failed drug test. Career statistics and player information from NFL. com • Pro-Football-Reference Philadelphia Eagles bio Oklahoma Sooners bio

25.
Matt Kalil
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Matthew Francis Kalil is an American football offensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He played college football at USC, and was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings fourth overall in the 2012 NFL Draft, Kalil attended Servite High School in Anaheim, California, where he played for the Servite Friars high school football team. He made the 2005 Cal-Hi Sports All-State Sophomore first team and his 2007 senior season honors included Parade All-American, Super Prep All-American, Prep Star All-American, EA Sports All-American first team, USA Today All-USA second team, Scout. Kalil also participated in track & field at Servite, where he had top-throws of 13.55 meters in the shotput and 39.80 meters in the discus. Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals. com, Kalil was listed as the No.3 offensive tackle in the class of 2008 and he played in the 2008 U. S. Army All-American Bowl on a West squad that featured fellow USC offensive lineman Tyron Smith. After redshirting his initial year at USC, Kalil served as backup to Tyron Smith at right tackle and he started against Boston College and performed well, and saw limited action in 11 other games and played primarily on special teams. In his sophomore year, Kalil beat Smith to replace Charles Brown at left tackle and he also played on the defensive line for special teams and blocked a point after touchdown against Notre Dame. As a junior, Kalil retained his left tackle spot. The Trojans offensive line allowed a FBS-low eight sacks of quarterback Matt Barkley. For his effort, Kalil was named to several All-American teams, Kalil was also semifinalist for the 2011 Lombardi Award. Already after his Senior year, Kalil was regarded as the best offensive tackle prospect for the 2012 NFL Draft and he declared for the draft on December 16. After a strong performance at the NFL Combine, Kalil was projected to be the No.3 draft pick by the Minnesota Vikings, the Vikings eventually selected Kalil, but not until trading down to the No.4 spot. They had not selected an offensive lineman in the first round since Bryant McKinnie in 2002. Kalil was USCs fifth offensive lineman selected in the top-5 of an NFL Draft, after Ron Yary in 1968, Marvin Powell in 1977, Anthony Muñoz in 1980, and Tony Boselli in 1995. With Tyron Smith having been selected ninth overall in 2011, it also made USC the first school with consecutive top-10 selected offensive lineman since Texas Leonard Davis, Kalil was signed to a four-year contract by the Minnesota Vikings on July 26,2012. He was selected to attend the Pro Bowl after Washington Redskins offensive tackle Trent Williams was injured during a night club fight, on September 21,2016, Kalil was placed on injured reserve with a hip injury. On March 10,2017, Kalil signed a five-year, $55 million contract with the Carolina Panthers. His father, Frank, was a center at Arkansas and Arizona and his brother Ryan was an All-American at Southern California, and plays with the Carolina Panthers

26.
Trent Williams
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Trent Williams is an American football offensive tackle for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He played college football at Oklahoma, and was recognized as an All-American and he was considered one of the best tackle prospects available for the 2010 NFL Draft, and was drafted fourth overall by the Redskins. Williams was a unanimous first-team all-district selection as a senior, longview entered the 2005 UIL playoffs on a 10–0 season record, but lost 14–13 to Nick Florences South Garland. He was also on the team as a shot putter. Considered a three-star recruit by Rivals. com, Williams was listed as the No.28 offensive guard prospect in the nation, Williams played 462 snaps, had 75 knockdowns, and was named to The Sporting News Freshman All-America second team. In his sophomore year, Williams saw action in all 14 games and had six starts at right tackle, as a junior in 2008, he started all 14 games, the first at left tackle and the remaining 13 at right tackle, and registered 131 knockdowns. He was part of a dominant 2008 Sooners offensive line that included Duke Robinson, Phil Loadholt, and allowed only 11 sacks all season, the two teams that finished above them combined to attempt 231 passes. Oklahoma attempted 476, and—featuring quarterback Sam Bradford and running back DeMarco Murray—became the highest-scoring team in the modern era, as the lone holdover from the 2008 offensive line, Williams was listed at No.2 on Rivals. com′s 2009 preseason offensive tackle power ranking. He was also named to the 2009 Outland Trophy watch list, despite missing the regular season finale due to injury, Williams led Oklahoma with 102 knockdown blocks and 885 plays, and was named an All-American by the American Football Coaches Association. Williams was considered one of the best offensive tackles available in the 2010 NFL Draft, according to NFL. coms Gil Brandt, Williams will be a first-round pick and can be a long-time starter in the NFL. Williams was drafted fourth overall by the Washington Redskins and agreed to a six-year, in the 2010 season, Williams made his NFL debut, as well as his first career start, in Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys. In the 2011 season, Williams was made an offensive co-captain along with veteran teammate Santana Moss, in Week 14, Williams and teammate Fred Davis were suspended for four games after repeatedly failing league drug tests. Williams suffered a bruise in his left foot during the first 2012 preseason game against the Buffalo Bills. Despite this injury, he started in the next two games and was fully healed by the season opener against the New Orleans Saints. By the start of the season, his teammates voted for him again to be the team captain. He suffered a knee injury early in the Redskins Week 3 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. After getting an MRI exam the day, it was reported that Williams had another bone bruise. He was able to play in the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

27.
Jake Long
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Jake Edward Long is an American football offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Michigan, where he was a two-time consensus All-American and he has also played for the St. Louis Rams, Atlanta Falcons, and Minnesota Vikings. In high school, Long was the first player in his schools history to earn all-state Dream Team honors in football from the Detroit News. He was a two-time first-team All-Metro League player in basketball and football, where he was honored both on offense and defense. In baseball, he was a two-time second-team All-Metro League selection, in both basketball and football, he led his team to regular and post season success that had not been seen in many years. At the University of Michigan, he redshirted for a year and he earned second-team All-Big Ten Conference recognition and Rivals. com Freshman All-American recognition. In 2006 and 2007, he earned Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year, in 2006 he was an Outland and Lombardi Trophy watch lists selection and in 2007 he was a finalist for both awards. He was a consensus first-team All-American in 2006, and a unanimous first-team All-American in 2007, after being drafted by Miami, he became an immediate starter and has started every game that the team has played since he has been a member. At the conclusion of his season, he was selected to numerous All-Rookie teams and was a substitute Pro Bowl selection. Long has followed up on a rookie season by earning Pro Bowl roster spots in 2009,2010. Long was born in Lapeer, Michigan, the son of John and he attended Lapeer East High School, where he was the first player in his high schools history to earn all-state Dream Team honors in football. In baseball, he played first base and he played basketball, baseball and football in high school. Long was a 2001 Flint, Michigan All-Metro League lineman on both sides of the ball as an end and offensive lineman. And in Lapeer Easts final game of the 2001 season, Long rushed for three touchdowns, as a junior that football season, he was listed at 6 feet 7 inches,270 pounds. In Longs first start as a varsity basketball player on December 4,2001 and that season he helped lead Lapeer East to an unbeaten 14–0 Metro League record overall as they prepared for the Michigan High School Athletic Association tournament. It was the first unbeaten Metro League season by any team since 1989, Long was an All-Metro league first team selection, but his team lost in the 2002 Class A district semifinal on the road. By the end of the season, he was listed at 6 feet 7 inches,290 pounds. As a junior, he was a second-team All-Metro League baseball selection as an infielder, by the end of his junior year, he had already set the school home run record in baseball and was the fifth-ranked high school football prospect in the state of Michigan

28.
Joe Thomas (offensive tackle)
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Joseph Hayden Thomas is an American football offensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He played college football for the University of Wisconsin, earned unanimous All-American honors, the Browns chose Thomas with the third overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, and he has been selected to the Pro Bowl every season since entering the NFL. Thomas was born in Brookfield, Wisconsin and his parents are Eric and Sally Thomas. He attended Brookfield Central High School, and played tackle, defensive end, tight end, fullback, placekicker. He was recognized as the WFCA2002 Defensive Player of the Year and he had 85 tackles and 12 sacks as a senior. As a junior, he had 70 tackles and eight sacks and he was listed as the third best prospect in the state of Wisconsin in 2003. Aside from his prowess, Thomas performed well academically. He was an honor roll student and a part of the U. S. Army Academic All-America team. Regarded as a recruit by Rivals. com, Thomas was ranked as the No.18 offensive tackle prospect in the class of 2003. Wisconsin, Nebraska, Colorado, and Notre Dame vied for his recruitment before he signed his letter of intent to Wisconsin in January 2003. In track and field, Thomas set the record for shotput. He lettered four times in track and field and he also holds the school indoor record in the shot put. He also excelled at shotput for the Badgers track and field team and he garnered national recognition for record-breaking performances in shot put and discus throw. He was a 2005 second-team All-Big Ten Conference selection, as he qualified for the 2004 and 2005 NCAA Regionals in the shot put, Thomas enrolled in the University of Wisconsin, where he played for the Wisconsin Badgers football team from 2003 to 2006. As a true freshman in 2003 he mostly saw action as a tight end. In 2004, he started all 12 games at tackle, helping the Badgers ground game with Anthony Davis. In 2005, Barry Alvarezs final season, he started all 13 games at tackle and was named a first-team All-American by Pro Football Weekly. He blocked for Brian Calhoun, who had an impressive year, Thomas considered declaring for the 2006 NFL Draft, where he was projected among the top 15 picks

29.
USA Today
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USA Today is an internationally distributed American daily middle-market newspaper that serves as the flagship publication of its owner, the Gannett Company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15,1982, it operates from Gannetts corporate headquarters on Jones Branch Drive in McLean, Virginia and it is printed at 37 sites across the United States and at five additional sites internationally. USA Today is distributed in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, with an international edition distributed in Canada, Asia and the Pacific Islands, Gannett formally announced the launch of the paper on April 20,1982. USA Today began publishing on September 15,1982, initially launching in the Baltimore and Washington, on July 2,1984, the newspaper switched from a largely black-and-white to a color publication, featuring full color photography and graphics in all four sections. On April 8,1985, the paper published its first special bonus section, a 12-page section called Baseball 85, on May 6,1986, USA Today began printing production of its international edition in Switzerland. On April 15, USA Today launched an international printing site. On August 28,1995, an international publishing site was launched in Frankfurt, Germany, to print. On October 4,1999, USA Today began running advertisements on its front page for the first time. The paper launched a sixth printing site for its international edition on May 15,2000, in Milan, Italy, followed on July 10 by the launch of a printing facility in Charleroi. That November, USA Today migrated its operations from Gannetts previous corporate headquarters in Arlington, in 2010, USA Today launched the USA Today API for sharing data with partners of all types. On August 27,2010, USA Today announced that it would undergo a reorganization of its newsroom and it also announced that the paper would shift its focus away from print and place more emphasis on its digital platforms and launch of a new publication called USA Today Sports. On September 14,2012, USA Today underwent the first major redesign in its history, to accomplish this goal, Gannett migrated its newspaper and television station websites to the Presto platform and the USA Today site design throughout 2013 and 2014. On January 4,2014, USA Today acquired the book and film review website, on September 3,2014, USA Today announced that it would lay off roughly 70 employees in a restructuring of its newsroom and business operations. In October 2014, USA Today and OpenWager Inc. entered into a partnership to release a Bingo app called USA TODAY Bingo Cruise, USA Today is known for synthesizing news down to easy-to-read-and-comprehend stories. In the main edition circulated in the United States and some Canadian cities, each consists of four sections, News, Money, Sports. The international edition of the paper features two sections, News and Money in one, with Sports and Life in the other, atypical of most daily newspapers, the paper does not print on Saturdays and Sundays, the Friday edition serves as the weekend edition. USA Today prints each complete story on the front page of the section with the exception of the cover story. The cover story is a story that requires a jump

30.
American football positions
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In American football, each team has 11 players on the field at one time. The specific role that a player takes on the field is called his position, under the modern rules of American football, teams are allowed unlimited substitutions, that is, teams may change any number of players after any play. This has resulted in the development of three platoons of players, the offense, the defense, and the special teams, within those platoons, various specific positions exist depending on what each players main job is. In American football, the offense is the side in which the players have possession of the ball and it is their job to advance the ball towards the opponents end zone to score points. The backs and receivers are also known as skill position players or as eligible receivers. Offensive linemen are not usually eligible to advance the ball past the line of scrimmage during a play, the organization of the offense is strictly mandated by the rules, there must be at least seven players on the line of scrimmage and no more than four players behind it. The only players eligible to handle the ball during a play are the backs. The remaining players are considered ineligible, and may only block, within these strictures, however, creative coaches have developed a wide array of offensive formations to take advantage of different player skills and game situations. The following positions are standard in every game, though different teams will use different arrangements of them. The offensive line is responsible for blocking. The offensive line consists of, Center The center is the player who begins the play from scrimmage by snapping the ball to the quarterback. As the name suggests, the center usually plays in the middle of the offensive line, like all offensive linemen, the center has the responsibility to block defensive players. The center often also has the responsibility to call out blocking assignments, offensive guard Two guards line up directly on either side of the center. Like all interior linemen, their function is to block on both running and passing plays, in such cases, the guard is referred to as a pulling guard. Guards are typically shorter builds than tackles but taller than centers, offensive tackle Two tackles play outside of the guards. Their role is primarily to block on both running and passing plays, the area from one tackle to the other is an area of close line play in which blocks from behind, which are prohibited elsewhere on the field, are allowed. For a right-handed quarterback, the tackle is charged with protecting the quarterback from being hit from behind. Like a guard, the tackle may have to pull, on a running play, the six backs and receivers are those that line up outside or behind the offensive line

31.
Center (gridiron football)
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Center is a position in American football and Canadian football. The center is the innermost lineman of the line on a football teams offense. The center is also the player who passes the ball between his legs to the quarterback at the start of each play, in recent years, the importance of centers for a football team has increased, due to the re-emergence of 3-4 defenses. According to Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome, you need to have somebody who can neutralize that nose tackle, if you dont, everything can get screwed up. Your running game wont be effective and youll also have somebody in your quarterbacks face on every play, the centers first and primary role is to pass the football to the quarterback. This exchange is called a snap, most offensive schemes make adjustments based on how the defensive line and linebackers align themselves in relation to the offensive line, and what gaps they line up in. Because the center has a view of the defensive formation before the snap. This call is typically based on the position of the linemen or linebackers in his gaps. In some cases the center may call an adjustment for the offensive line. This was taken to an extreme by the Indianapolis Colts in the early 21st century, the center is therefore usually the most intelligent player on the offensive line, which is critical to a centers success. After the snap, the center performs blocking assignments, the blocking assignments vary by offense but typically consist of the following, Run blocking assignments will vary based on the current play and the defensive formation when the ball is snapped. Typically, these assignments consist of the following, Blocking middle or backside linebackers in certain formations, assisting guards in their blocking assignments. This may be a center/guard double-team where the center and guard are assigned to the target to get extra push or drive. Assistance may also be just a quick hit or chip to throw the player off balance and help the guard to execute his block. Backside blocking of defensive tackles for pulling guards, in some offensive schemes, certain plays will involve pulling an offensive lineman to block for the ball carrier. If a guard needs to pull for a block, the center will typically block the defensive tackle in order to fill the guards void, pass blocking for a center is similar to run blocking for a center. The center will initially help guards based on the position of the defensive linemen, in the case of a blitz, the center may need to pick up a rushing linebacker, safety or corner. A good center also needs to stay vigilant during pass blocking to protect against defensive stunts and twists, on most plays, the center will snap the ball directly into the quarterbacks hands

32.
Placekicker
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Placekicker, or simply kicker, is the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals and extra points. In many cases, the placekicker also serves as the kickoff specialist or punter as well. The kicker initially was not a specialized role, george Blanda, Frank Gifford and Paul Hornung are prominent examples of players who were stars at other positions as well as being known for their kicking abilities. When the one-platoon system was abolished in the 1940s, the era of players gave way to increased specialization. Ben Agajanian, who started his career in 1945, was the first confirmed place-kicking specialist in the NFL. Because of the difference in techniques needed, to avoid leg fatigue, the placekicker usually will only punt when the punter is injured, and vice versa. A professional team will occasionally even have a kickoff specialist who handles only the kickoffs and serves as a backup to the kicker who handles field goals and extra points. This is typically done to protect a premier point-scoring kicker from injury or if he, while accurate. Amateur teams often do not differentiate between placekickers and punters, have different players assume different placekicking duties, or have regular position players handle kicking duties, the last option is quite common on high school teams, when the best athletes are often the best kickers. Before the modern era of pro football, this was also the case for professional teams, placekickers and punters are often the lowest paid starters on professional teams, although proven placekickers sometimes earn over $1 million per year in salary. It is not uncommon for placekickers to be some of the smallest members of their team, however, The New York Times in 2011 wrote that NFL kickers had adopted year-round weight training and strict diets. Sebastian Janikowski that year was a 6-foot-2-inch and 250-pound kicker, kicker Rob Bironas, who was 6 feet and 205 pounds, noted, I might be bigger than some wide receivers and cornerbacks. The presence of foreign born-and-raised players in the highest levels of football has largely been limited to placekickers. Notably Tom Landry recruited several players from Latin America, such as Efren Herrera and Raphael Septien. These anecdotes increase the perception of the placekicker as an outsider, the top 25 players in NFL history in career scoring are all placekickers. Stephen Gostkowski, of the New England Patriots, is the NFLs highest paid kicker, in the NFL, placekickers, along with punters and quarterbacks, are among the only players allowed to wear single-digit uniform numbers, kickers can also wear numbers between 10 and 19. In college and high school football, kickers can wear any number, the two players in documented football history to have worn the uniform number 100, Chuck Kinder and Bill Bell, were both placekickers. Previously, most placekickers used a straight on style, which required the use of a shoe that is extremely rigid and has a flattened

33.
Punter (football)
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This generally happens on a fourth down in American football and a third down in the Canadian version. Punters may also take part in fake punts in those same situations. A punter must be skilled in angling the football and/or kicking it as high as possible to maximize his teammates’ ability to eliminate a punt returners forward progress. A standard is that for a 42-yard fair-caught or out-of-bounds punt, the hang time should be at least a tenth of it in seconds. However, a hang-time of 5 seconds and over are still considered great punts, also, the punter will try to make the ball spin in an unusual manner making it harder to catch, which could result in a muff and potentially lead to the punters team gaining possession. The most common punting strategy involves receiving the snap from the line of scrimmage,15 yards into a deep shotgun formation. A less-seen strategy is the kick, in which the punter moves to the left or right, outside the offensive tackle. Punters play a role in winning the field position battle. Punters have increasingly begun to pull double duty as the holder on field goal attempts and also being used on kickoffs in windy conditions. One of the reasons why punters are starting to take over the holder position is that the backup quarterback is usually busy with the rest of the offense and has little time to devote to holding. Likewise the punter has certain training in throwing, due to the possibility of faking a field goal or attempting a two-point conversion. The long snapper for field goals is usually the punt snapper as well, punters are usually on their own during team practices, allowing them the time to work with the kicker, so the punter and placekicker tend to develop a close rapport. Along with kicking, punters can run or throw the ball as well and this strategy is also known as the fake punt. Another common term is called the trick play, teams will often use this key strategy when it is 4th down with maybe 8 or less yards to the first down marker. The punter has the ability to receive the football and run or pass the ball to another teammate, when scrambling the punter is live to tackle. This strategy is used in a close game. Thus, punters tend to receive the most attention when teams are bad, a coffin corner refers to the corner of the playing field just in front of the end zone, usually from the 5-yard line to the goal line. A perfect coffin corner kick is one that goes out of bounds just before either orange pylon located in the front of the end zone and this type of kick can also be attempted in Canadian football

34.
Quarterback
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A quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the team and line up directly behind the offensive line. In modern American football, the quarterback is considered the leader of the offensive team. In modern American football, the quarterback is usually the leader of the offense, the quarterback touches the ball on almost every offensive play, and his successes and failures can have a significant impact on the fortunes of his team. Accordingly, the quarterback is among the most glorified and scrutinized positions in team sports, prior to each play, the quarterback will usually tell the rest of his team which play the team will run. After the team is lined up, the center will pass the ball back to the quarterback, usually on a running play, the quarterback will then hand or pitch the ball backwards to a half back or full back. On a passing play, the quarterback is almost always the responsible for trying to throw the ball downfield to an eligible receiver downfield. Depending on the scheme by his team, the quarterbacks role can vary. While quarterbacks in Canadian football need to be able to throw the ball often, in the NFL, quarterbacks are required to wear a uniform number between 1 and 19. In the CFL, the quarterback can wear any number from 0 to 49 and 70 to 99. Because of their numbering, quarterbacks are eligible receivers in the NCAA, NFHS, after a Super Bowl victory, the starting quarterback is the first player to be presented with the Vince Lombardi Trophy. The starting quarterback of the victorious Super Bowl team is chosen for the Im going to Disney World. Campaign, whether they are the Super Bowl MVP or not, examples include Joe Montana, Trent Dilfer, Dilfer was chosen even though teammate Ray Lewis was the MVP of Super Bowl XXXV, due to the bad publicity from Lewis murder trial the prior year. In addition to their role, quarterbacks are occasionally used in other roles. Most teams utilize a backup quarterback as their holder on placekicks, in the Wildcat, a formation where a halfback lines up behind the center and the quarterback lines up out wide, the quarterback can be used as a receiving target or a blocker. A more rare use for a quarterback is to punt the ball himself, Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway was known to perform quick kicks occasionally, typically when the Broncos were facing a third-and-long situation. As Roger Staubachs back-up, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Danny White was also the teams punter, ascending the starting role upon Staubachs retirement, White held his position as the teams punter for several seasons—a double duty he performed to All-American standard at Arizona State University. White also had two touchdown receptions as a Dallas Cowboy, both from the halfback option, if quarterbacks are uncomfortable with the formation the defense is using, they may call an audible change to their play

35.
Dual-threat quarterback
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In gridiron football, a dual-threat quarterback, also known as a running quarterback, is a quarterback who possesses the skills and physique to run with the ball if necessary. Typically a dual threat qb will put up more than 300 yards per year in the NFL, with the rise of several blitz heavy defensive schemes and increasingly faster defensive players, the importance of a mobile quarterback has been redefined. Overall, the quarterback has been referred to as the most complex position in sports by Bleacher Report. Dual-threat quarterbacks have historically been more prolific at the college level and this type of offense forces defenders to commit to either the running back up the middle, the quarterback around the end, or the running back trailing the quarterback. It is then that the quarterback has the option to identify which match up is most favorable to the offense as the play unfolds, in the college game, many schools employ several plays that are designed for the quarterback to run with the ball. This is much less common in football, except for a quarterback sneak. Historically, dual threat quarterbacks in the National Football League were uncommon, in recent years, quarterbacks with dual-threat capabilities have become more popular. Current NFL quarterbacks considered to be dual-threat include Cam Newton, Russell Wilson, Colin Kaepernick, and Tyrod Taylor. In the 1950s, Tobin Rote, was a example of a dual-threat quarterback, as he led the Green Bay Packers in rushing in 3 seasons. As of the 2015 NFL season, Rote still ranks 9th all time in rushing yards for a quarterback, the next decade, however, saw Fran Tarkenton impact the game in both passing and running aspects. Tarkenton writes, When I began my NFL career in 1961, the reason was simple, I played quarterback and I ran. There were no designed runs in our playbook, but I would scramble out of the pocket when a play broke down, Tarkenton adds by describing the reaction to his scrambling at the time, It was not a skill set that was embraced. Plenty of people mocked it, and the rest wrote it off, at the time of his retirement, Tarkenton was the all-time leader in rushing yards by a quarterback, with 3,674. In 1972, Chicago Bears quarterback Bobby Douglass set the single-season rushing yards record for a quarterback, Douglass, however, was not considered a good passer, as his receivers complained his arm strength was, too strong, as he often overthrew the ball. The Bears attempted to create wild schemes, before discovering his rushing ability, during the 1980s and 90s, dual-threat quarterbacks were more frequently seen than in previous decades. Randall Cunningham and Steve Young were the faces of rushing quarterbacks during this era, Cunningham was able to exceed Young in statistical regards. On October 18,1992, Cunningham surpassed Tarkentons record for rushing yards by a quarterback. Following the 2001 NFL season, Cunningham retired with a then-record 4,928 rushing yards, despite Cunningham having more rushing yards, Young holds the record for most career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, with 43

36.
Linebacker
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A linebacker is a playing position in American football and Canadian football. Linebackers are members of the team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen, and therefore back up the line. Linebackers generally align themselves before the ball is snapped by standing upright in a two point stance, the goal of the linebacker is to provide either extra run protection or extra pass protection based on the particular defensive play being executed. Another key play of the position is blitzing. A blitz occurs when a linebacker acts as a pass rusher running into any exposed gap. When a blitz is called by the defense, it is mainly to sack or hurry the opposing offenses quarterback. Linebackers are often regarded as the most important position in defence, due to their versatility in providing hard hits on running plays or a layer of pass protection. Similar to the safety position, linebackers are required to use their judgment on every snap. Before the advent of the two platoon system with units for offense and defense, the player who was the teams center on offense was often, though not always. Hence today one usually sees four defensive linemen to the five or more. Most sources claim coach Fielding H. Yost and center Germany Schulz of the University of Michigan invented the position, Schulz was Yosts first linebacker in 1904 when he stood up from his usual position on the line. Yost was horrified at first, but came to see the wisdom in Schulzs innovation, william Dunn of Penn St. was another Western linebacker soon after Schulz. However, there are historical claims tied to the linebacker position. For example, Percy Given of Georgetown is another center with a claim to the title first linebacker, despite Given, most sources have the first linebacker in the South as Frank Juhan of Sewanee. In the East, Ernest Cozens of Penn was one of the first of the centers, another, archaic term for the position. Walter E. Bachman of Lafayette was said to be the developer of the roving center concept, edgar Garbisch of Army was credited with developing the roving center method of playing defensive football in 1921. In professional football, Cal Hubbard is credited with pioneering the linebacker position and he starred as a tackle and end, playing off the line in a style similar to that of a modern linebacker. The middle or inside linebacker, sometimes called Mike or Mohr, is referred to as the quarterback of the defense

37.
Long snapper
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During field goals and point after touchdown, the snap is received by the holder typically 7–8 yards away. During punt plays the snap is delivered to the punter from 13–15 yards away, if the punt goes uncaught it is the snappers responsibility to make sure the ball does not enter the endzone or bounce backward resulting in loss of yards. The majority of snappers at the highest levels of competition are specialized, meaning that they play the position of snapper. A good punt snap should hit the target between.65 and.80 seconds and with a spiral for easy handling. A bad snap is an off-target snap which causes the delay or failure of a kick and/or forces the punter into a compromising situation. College rules are such that any of the 11 players on the team are allowed to proceed downfield at any time once the play has begun. This results in many teams employing a spread punt or rugby-style scheme designed to maximize downfield coverage and this allowed the team to dress another non-specialist player. Now, every team in the NFL has a long snapper. Long snappers are usually amongst the least known players in the NFL, because of their highly specialized and relatively invisible role on the field. They are also in general not drafted and normally are acquired as undrafted free agents, with a few exceptions, ryan Pontbriand was drafted in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns, although he was drafted as an offensive center. Zak DeOssie, long snapper for the New York Giants, was drafted in the round of the 2007 NFL Draft. Todd Thomas was selected in the round of the 1981 NFL Draft, for his long snapping abilities. At the time draft records listed him as a tackle, the first pure long snapper to have been picked in the draft was Tyler Schmitt, a sixth round pick in 2008, selected by the Seattle Seahawks. Joe Cardona was drafted as a long snapper by the New England Patriots in the round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Several other players who went on to be their teams long snapper the following season have been selected but were listed at different positions during the draft. For example, Brad St. Louis was listed as a end in the 2000 NFL Draft. Despite their anonymity, a team lacking a skilled long snapper can be seriously undermined, a famous example of this was on January 5,2003 during the 2002 wild card playoff game between the San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants. During the regular season, the Giants suffered missed field goals due to the lack of a long snapper

38.
Holder (gridiron football)
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In American football and Canadian football, the holder is the player who receives the snap from the long snapper during field goal or extra point attempts made by the placekicker. The holder is set on one knee 5 yards behind the line-of-scrimmage, before the play begins he places the hand which is closest to the place kicker on the ground in a location designated by the kickers foot, with his forward hand ready to receive the snap. The holder, like the placekicker and the long snapper, is protected from contact from the opposing team. The penalty for roughing the holder is 15 yards and an automatic first down. Because of this, it is rare for a team to preserve a roster spot solely for a placekick holder. One notable exception was Patricia Palinkas, the first female football player. The holders actual position, on the official depth chart, is generally either the punter or the backup quarterback. Some high school football teams will place a wide receiver or running back at the position because of their good hands. The rationale for having a backup quarterback holding is that the quarterback is accustomed to receiving snaps from center and he also provides a threat for a fake field goal since the quarterback can throw a pass on such plays. Additionally, in the event of a bad snap and a kick attempt. Years ago in the NFL, backup quarterbacks generally held for field goal kicks, however, such usage has remained rather common in collegiate football. Many times a quarterback who was a redshirt freshman will serve as the holder his sophomore year, in todays NFL, most teams use their punter as holder. There are a few NFL teams that use a quarterback as their holders. New Orleans Saints – The Saints tend to run more fake field goals than any other team and their holder for a period was quarterback Luke McCown, but is now punter Thomas Morstead. The Cowboys hired a more experienced holder, Brian Moorman, in 2012, throughout the 1990s, starting tight end Jay Novacek was the usual holder on kicks. Oakland Raiders – The Raiders Matt Schaub was used as the holder during the 2014 season, denver Broncos – The Broncos used to have former starting quarterback Jake Plummer as the holder and continued to do so after he was benched in favor of Jay Cutler. After Plummer retired the Broncos began to use their punter as the holder, seattle Seahawks – Steve Largent, a wide receiver, was the kick holder and in 1985, he ran in a muffed snap for an extra point. During a fake field goal attempt the holder may pick the ball up, in addition, the holder may attempt a run or pass if the snap is botched and a successful kick is unlikely

39.
Running back
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A running back is an American and Canadian football position, a member of the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a play, to catch passes from out of the backfield. There are usually one or two running backs on the field for a play, depending on the offensive formation. A running back may be a halfback or a fullback, a running back will sometimes be called a feature back if he is the teams starting running back. The halfback or tailback position is responsible for carrying the ball on the majority of running plays, in the modern game, an effective halfback must have a blend of both quickness and agility as a runner, as well as sure hands and good vision up-field as a receiver. Quarterbacks depend on halfbacks as a safety valve receiver when primary targets downfield are covered or when they are under pressure, occasionally, halfbacks line up as additional wide receivers. As a trick play, running backs are used to pass the ball on a halfback option play or halfback pass. The difference between halfback and tailback is the position of the player in the offensive formation. In historical formations, the lined up approximately halfway between the line of scrimmage and the fullback. Because the halfback is usually the main ball carrier, modern offensive formations have positioned the halfback behind the fullback. As a result, some systems or playbooks will call for a tailback as opposed to a halfback, in most modern college and professional football schemes, fullbacks carry the ball infrequently, instead using their stronger physiques as primary lead blockers. On most running plays, the leads the halfback, attempting to block potential tacklers before they reach the ball carrier. When fullbacks are called upon to carry the ball, the situation calls for gaining a short amount of yardage. Fullbacks are technically running backs, but today the term running back is used in referring to the halfback or tailback. Although modern fullbacks are rarely used as carriers, in previous offensive schemes fullbacks would be the designated ball carriers. In high school football, where player sizes vary greatly, fullbacks are still used as ball carriers. In high school and college offenses, the triple option uses the fullback as a primary ball carrier. The fullback plays a role by establishing an inside running threat on every play

40.
Halfback (American football)
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A halfback is an offensive position in American football, whose duties involve lining up in the backfield and carrying the ball on most rushing plays, i. e. a running back. The halfback position is one of the more glamorous positions on the field, sometimes the halfback can catch the ball from the backfield on short passing plays as he is an eligible receiver. Occasionally, they line up as wide receivers. When not running or catching the ball, the responsibility of a halfback is to aid the offensive linemen in blocking. Before the emergence of the T-formation in the 1940s, all members of the backfield were legitimate threats to run or pass the ball. Most teams used four offensive backs on every play, a quarterback, the quarterback began each play a quarter of the way back, the halfbacks began each play side by side and halfway back, and the fullback began each play the farthest back. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the position was both an offensive and defensive position. There has also been a shift in most offense’s dependence on halfbacks, however, the average output of the halfback has not changed. Older systems require the halfback be proficient at throwing the ball downfield as well, many of the “scat backs” in the modern era produce more total yards and touchdowns than their ancestor “power backs” by breaking off big plays on outside runs and receptions. The spread offense and the hurry-up offense change the halfback’s role, the spread, the hurry-up, and the pro-style offenses dominate American football but the “smash-mouth” style of play is far from extinct. A power-running scheme is often utilized to counter an effective Spread attack, as it allows a team to control the clock and this strategy is utilized in NFL, college, and all other forms of American football. The need for “power backs is very prevalent, alongside the need for “scat backs”, in the past few decades the role of the halfback has gone through a great shift as most offensive game plans are now fueled by creativity and finesse instead of raw force. Stamina and durability is more important than ever in the hurry-up offense, on the other hand, speed is often valued over strength, and pass-catching ability is sometimes valued over blocking proficiency. Power was once the most desired trait in a halfback, but has been taken by the need for a diverse skill set. In the last few decades the running back’s individual share of output has declined as quarterbacks are generally treated as the cornerstone of the offense. The demands of an up-tempo offense also favor a multiple running back system, from the dawn of American football through the 1880s most offensive schemes focused on the running game. In a running based game plan the halfback was typically the cornerstone of the offense and this system focused on a physical run attack concentrated in the inside of the field, and therefore depended on a skilled “power back”. There were no forward passes, and pure speed took a backseat to tackle-breaking and bucking ability, there was a focus on physicality over finesse, as this type of playing style earned the moniker of “smash mouth” football